Combined speedometer and odometer



C. CARSON.

COMBINED SPEEDOMETER AND DDOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6. IBIS RENEWED NOV1I61I9I8.

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C. CARSON.

COMBINED SPAEEUOMETER AND ODOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. I6. I9I5. RENEwED Nov. 16,1918.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

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CLARENCE CARSON, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO H. W. JOHNS- MAN VILLE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMBINED SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER.

`Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

Application filed October 16, 1915, Serial No. 56,203. Renewed November 16, 1918. Serial No. 262,905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE CARSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New Rochelle, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have' invented certain new afnd useful Improvements in Combined Speelometers and Odometers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to a combined speedometer and odometer and particularly relates to standard units designed to be assembled to form such an instrument.

It hasbeen Ausual in this art to design speedometers, `odom'eters and other rotary indicative instruments to meet the demands of the trade for different sizes and types of such articles.

One of the objects of my invention is to construct a mechanical part, together with its carrying frame, of one standard size forming a unit which can be carried in stock. -`With these units there is also to be carried in stock, inclosing casings of different standard sizes and reading dials of different standard sizes provided with fields of different diameters and different range of miles, each designed to coact with the standard mechanical unit.

A further renement of the invention is to prqvide the mechanical unit of two separable' parts, one part including the odometer mechanism and the other part including the speedometer mechanism, said parts being interchangeable. respectively, with similar parts carrying different types of speedometer and odometer mechanism.

With .this interchangeability of unit parts carried in stock, it is possible when an order is received for a certain character of instrument to take one of these mechanical units, as assembled, or to construct the desired type of unit by assembling the desired type of the speedometer mechanism with the desired type of odometer mechanism,set the parts of the mechanism unit for insulation in the required sized casing or to fit the required sized dial or scale and then assemble the units. In this way any size or type of instrument, can be supplied from stock, p rovided the required l.sized substantially cylindrical casing, dial or type of lmechanism is available.

.This I am enabled to attain, with the device hereinafter described, simply by. shiftan inspection of the' accompanying drawings and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying my invention, and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of' construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth-and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of my invention with the dial removed and certain parts broken away to show internal construction;

' Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the mechanical unit mounted in-a casing larger than the easing shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation ofthe complete device shown in Fig. 1 or 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the underside of the device shown in Fig. 1 and with the frame removed from the containing easing; and Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the frame inserted in the casing.

In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience of expression, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

` In the drawings there is shown a mechanical unit comprising two readily separable parts demountably fastened together and hereinafter, for convenience of expression, referred to as a speedometer mechanism 10 and as an odometer `mechanism 11. The speedometer Vmechanism includes a supporting frame 12 of any convenient configuration best suited for installation in the desired types of casing. The frame illustrated is shown to be a circular band provided With laterally extending and oppositely disposed supports 13 and 14 cast integral therewith and constituting a spacing means for localizing the units in a containing casing. The ends of the sup orts 13 and 14 are provided with tapped iioles adapted to receive, respectively, the pair of screws 17 and 18, the former of which are designed to pass through the rear Wall of the containing casing, hereinafter described, to fasten the unit thereto and the latter of which are adapted to fasten the odometer mechanism 11 demountably in position at the front, of the completed instrument and spaced from the frame 12. The frame 12 is provided, at a point therein intermediate the supports, with an end thrust bearing 19 for a main driving shaft 20. A hub 21 for the shaft is positioned on the frame 12 diametrically positioned opposite the bearing 19. This hub projects eX- ternally of the outlines of the frame 12 and is provided With a reduced threaded portion 22, by means of which the device may be mounted in position, or by means of which, a container of the driving element may be attached. The hub is internally threaded and contains a bearing block 23 in which 'the shaft 20-is mounted for free rotary movement. The outer end of the shaft extends beyond the hub and is designed to be operatively connected, to any member, the speed of which is to be ascertained and the revolutions of which are to he counted. The driving shaft 20 constitutes a governor shaft and is provided with a centrifugally actuated governor, including Weights 24, operatively connected to a runner 25 which is slidably mounted upon the governor shaft and which constitutes a speed control member of the device. The runner 25 is in the form of a sleeve and is provided with a pair of laterally projecting disks 26 extending perpendicular to the axis of movement of the same and spaced apart longitudinally of said axis to form an annular runway 27 therebetween.

The indicator actuating mechanism of the speedometer mechanism is carried on a mounting plate 28 and is removable therewith from the frame 12, as a unit. As the indicator actuating mechanism may be of the same type for the different types of casings and for the different types of odometer mechanisms carried in stock, this mounting plate may also be utilized as the mounting plate for the odometer mechanism and each of the different odometer mechanism units may be provided with the same type of indicator actuating mechanism. ln this way the odometer mechanism and the indicator actuating mechanism may be combined as one unit and at the same time retain the advantage of separating the speedometer parts more particularly pointed out in applicant/s co-pending application Serial No. 32,254, tiled June 10th, 1915. This indicator mechanism includes a pair of shafts journaled in the mounting plate 28 and in a bridge plate 29 affixed to the rear face of the mountii'lg plate. One of the shafts 3() projects rearwardly through the bridge plate upon which projected portion is a crank arm 31 adjustably fastened thereto by means of a collar 32 fastened to the shaft by a set screw 33.- The crank includes an arm or stud 34 provided with a rounded head 35 adapted to be inserted in the runway 27, so that the longitudinal movement of the runner on the shaft will rock `the crank on its shaft. rThe shaft 30 is enlarged between the plates 28 and 29 to prevent longitudinal movement thereof and the portion thereof adjacent the plate 28 has a sector gear 3G adjustably fastened lthereto and designed to mesh continually with a small pinion 37 secured to the other shaft 88. A spring 89 has one end secured to a post 40 extending rearwardly from the mountinfr plate 28 and has its opposite ends attached to the notched extension 41 depending from the crank arm. The shaft 38 extends forwardly through the mounting plate 28 and constitutes an indicator actuating shaft. This shaft is' designed to extend 'through an opening- 42 in the dial plate 43 which dial plate is provided with a scale 44 arranged in an are with the opening` 42 concentrically disposed relative thereto. An indicator or pointer 45 is fixed to the shaft 38 by means of a hub 4G and is arranged to move relative to the scale as is usual with speedometers of this character.

The mounting plate 28 and the parts attached 'thereto constitute a complete odometer demountable as a unit from the casing. r:this mounting plate is provided with a pair of end brackets 47 fixed in position and formed preferably by cuttingtongues from the body of the plate and bending these tongues at right angles thereto to form an elongated sight opening 48 centrally7 of the plate. Supported from and between these end brackets are numeral Wheel units 49 of the Geneva type, coacting to form distance and trip indicator mechanism. more particularly described in my co-pending application Serial No. 33,255, filed .lune 10th, 1915. rlhe odometer mechanism includes a control gear 50 driven from the shaft 20 within the casing by means of a demountable register mechanism driving shaft 51. The shaft 5l. laps the shaft 20 and is drivenl therefrom by means of the intermeshing gearing The rear end of the shaft 51 is mounted in end bearings 53 carried by the frame 12 and the forward end is mounted in 'bearingsl 54 formed in the removable mounting;` plate 28.

One of the supports 13 is provided with a boss 55 in which is mounted a reset mechanism 5G including a knurled setting wheel 5T for changing the reading of the odometer. This construction is more particularliv dcfined in my ao-peiuling application. Serial No. 34.344 tiled .lune 1U. 1915.

ln the type ot' instrument Illustrated m Fig. l. the mechanism containing casing 5S is of a size designed so that the mechanical unit hereinbefore described shall have a snug it therein. One side of the casing, for convenience referred to as the bottom side, is provided with a recess 59 opening from the front edge thereof to receive the hub 2l, Which extends therethrough. A bottom portion of the frame 12 on opposite sides of the hub, is provided with a lateral extension 6() opposite edges of which are provided with grooves 61 into which the edges forming the recess 59 has a sliding tit to position the unit in yplace iu. the casing. The side of the casing is also provided with i recess 62, similar to the recess 59, for accommodating the projecting position of the reset mechanism 56.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 2, the casing is shown to be of a larger diameter designed to accommodate a larger dial plate, having a scale of correspondingly larger diameter. lVith a scale of this type, it is obvious that the indicatoractuating shaft must be moved so that it Will rotate about an axis concentrically disposed relative to the arc of the scale. For this pur-v pose, the mounting plate and bridge plate are provided with a plurality of alined small holes 63 constituting journal bearings for the indicator shaft. These bearings are concentrically disposed relative to the axis of the rotation of the shaft 30 and are positioned to the outside of the sector gear 36. Two of these bearings are illustrated inthe drauf'ings and it is, of course, obvious that as many of these bearings may be provided as there are different sizes of dials to Which the mechanical units are designed to coperate.

Each of the dial plates 43 is provided with an indicator shaft opening 64 designed to register with one of the bearings 63. The dial is also provided With fixed sight opening 65 designed, vviththe differenttype of units to register Withthe sight openings 4S in the supporting plate. The extension 60 is provided with a stud 66 adapted to engage a notch 67 at the bottom of the dial, thus providing a means for centering the dial relative to the frame 12. The different cases are each provided With a glass retaining ring 68 for holding the front glass face 69 in position.

In operation, let it.be assumed that a mechanical unit of the class described is carried in fstock, together with dials and casings of different sizes and types and with the'indicator shaft openings in the dials differently positioned relative to a fixed point of reference` such as the recess 59m the casing.` When an order is received for a certain size or type of instrument, the casing of that required size is assembled with oneof the mechanical units of the desired type. The indicator actuator shaft 88 is adjusted in the particular bearing Which Will register with the opening in the dial plate when the-parts are assembled and the unit is inserted /in the casing with its groove 61 containing the edges of the casing at the recess 59. Before the units are assembled the set screw 33 is loosened, if necessary, and the crank arm 31 adjusted on the shaft 30 until the head 35 has a slight bearing engagementwith one of the disks 26. Then the gear 36 is adjusted on the shaft 51, if such an adjustment is necessary to preserve the meshing of the same with the pinion 37. The indicator is suitably adjusted on the shaft 38, the glass face is inserted in place and there is thus formed a complete article of manufacture.

It may happen that an order is received for an instrument requiring an odometer mechanism differing' from the odometer mechanism assembled with lthe speedometer mechanism constituting the mechanical unit usually carried assembled in stock. If such should be the case, the speedometer mechanism is assembled with an odometer mechanism of the desired type and a plate 28, provided with the desired odometer mechanism is positioned on the support 13 and fastened in place by the screws 18.

By means of a device of this character` itis possible to lill orders for a variety of different size instruments from a minimum number of composite parts. The expensive mechanical inserts may all be made of one standard size, thus reducing the initial cost of construction and these different units maybe made to fit the desired size casings merely by shifting the position of the indicating actuator shaft. As all of the in dicator actuating mechanisms are carried by the mounting plate, this plate and its attached parts may be readily removed as a unit thus providing ready access to the parts carried thereby. This ready demounting of the plate also provides ready access to the odometer mechanism thus permitting the regrouping of indicator mechanism as pointed out in the above identified application, Serial Number 33,255, filed June 10th, 1915.

While the sight openings 65 have been defined as fixed relative to some point of reference such as the stud 66 i1; is obviousthat in those conditions Where the odometer mechanism is votherwise positioned relative v to the dial, dials With diiierently positioned openings may be carried 4in stock and utilized, but usually it is immaterial as to where the odometer sight opening is positioned. It is no objection that it is spaced from the center of the dial in some cases more than in others.

While I have shown and described, and have pointed out in the annexed claims, certain novel features of my invention, it will be understood that various omissions,

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substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination With a dial provided with an odometer sight opening and with an indicator shaft opening, of an odometer mechanism constituting a demountable unit including a support provided With a plurality of bearings, one of which is adapted to register With said'indicator shaft opening when the dial is assembled in operative relation to the disk With the numeral Wheel units of said odometer mechanism opposite said sight opening, a speedometer mechanism including an indicator shaft adapted to be mounted in any one of said bearings, an indicator iixed to said shaft.'and movable over said dial and a rotary driving mechanism operatively connected to said odometer mechanism and to said speedometer mechanism to actuate the same.

Q. In a device of the class described, the combination With a casing and a dial having an opening therethrough, of a mechanical unit designed to be assembled with similar casings of different sizes and With s the dial openings differently positioned, said unit including an odometer mechanism, and a speedometer mechanism, said speedometer mechanism including an indicator shaft shiftable relative to the unit to extend through the differently positioned openings in the different dials and driving mechanism mounted in the unit in relatively xed position, means connecting said driving mechanism With said odometer mechanism to actuate the same and means for connecting said driving mechanism With said speedometer mechanism to actuate the same, said speedometer mechanism including a shiftable driving connection With the indicator shaft.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing provided with tWo openings and meansadjacent one of the openings for attaching the same to mechanical units of different sizes relative to the size of said casing, of a mechanical unit adapted to be inserted` into said casing and provided with means coacting with said first named means for fastening the sa'me in place in fixed relation thereto, said unit including a speedometer mechanism, a-shaft for driving the same positioned in one of said openings, an odometer driven from said shaft, said odometer including means projecting therefrom positioned 1n the other of said openings assisting to locate the unit in position. in the easing.

4 In a combined speedometer and odometer. -the'combination of a mechanical unit having arotary driving element, an odometer mechanism operatively connected to said driving element and 'including numeral Wheels, an indicator shaft shiftable into a plurality of different positions in said unit, a speed controlled mechanism operated from said driving element and actuating sai-d indicator shaft in all positions of the same, and a casing' for accommodating said unit, said casing being provided with set spaces for accommodating said numeral wheels of the odometer and for accommodating said shiftable indicator shaft when in that one of its different positions designed for the same When the indicator element is set in its proper position.

5. In a device of the class described, a mechanical unit constituting a complete article of manufacture designed to be mounted in a containing casing and comprising a frame, a driving shaft mounted on said frame, an odometer mechanism operatively connected to be actuated from said driving shaft, and a speed indicating mechanism operatively connected to be actuated from said shaft and means carried by the unit for mounting the lsame in a definite position in a containing casing.

6. In a device of the class described, a' mechanical unit designed to be mounted in a containing casing and comprising a support, a driving shaft mounted for rotary movement in said support, a speed indicating mechanism operatively connected to said shaft, a mounting plate removably affixed to said support, an odometer mechanism supported from said plate and removable as a unit therewith, and means operatively connecting said shaft with said odometer mechanism.

7. In a device of the class described, a mechanicalunit comprising a frame, a driving shaft mounted for rotary movement in said frame, a speed controlled mechanlsm operatively connected to said shaft to be actuated thereby, a mounting plate removably affixed to said support, an indicator actuating mechanism supported from said plate and operatively connected to said speed controlled mechanism, an odometer mechanism carried by said plate, means operatively connecting said shaft with said odometer mechanism, said indicator actuating mechanism and said odometer mechanism being both removable with the plate without disturbing either the mechanism carried by the plate or the speed controlled mechanism. e

8. In a device of the class described, a mechanical unit comprising a frame provided with means for positioning the same in an inclosing casing, an odometer mechanism including an indicator element set in fixed position in the unit, and a speedometer meehanism including an indicator shaft mounted in said frame, said shaft being shiftable so as to be disposed in definite position relative to the inclosing casing.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a mechanical unit including an odometer mechanism and a speedometer mechanism, an inclo'sing casing for said unit, said casing provided with a sight opening for the odometer mechanism and provided with a Second opening for an element of the speedometer mechanism, said element being shiftable in the unit to position the said element in said second opening in the casing.

10. An article of manufacture comprising two standard units, one of said units constituting a. unitary mechanism including a plete speedometer mechanism, the other unit' constituting an inclosing casing for said unitary mechanism, said unitary mechanism including means for assembling the same in operative relation in said casing.

11. An article of manufacture comprisin two standard units, each complete in itsel one of said units comprisin a speedometer mechanism and the other unit comprising an inclosing casin and coacting means carried by the units or assembling the Same to form a com lete article.

Signed this 2nd day of September, A. D.

LARENCE CARSON. 

